Diogo Jota Biography, Early Life, Career, Wife, Children, Death, Net Worth
Diogo Jota, born on December 4, 1996, in Porto, Portugal, was a professional footballer renowned for his flexibility, accurate finishing, and persistent pressing. He primarily played striker or winger for Premier League club Liverpool, as well as the Portugal national team.
Jota started his youth career with Gondomar SC before joining Paços de Ferreira, where he made his professional debut in 2014. His performances piqued the interest of Atlético Madrid, which signed him in 2016. However, he spent the 2016-17 season on loan at Porto and then at Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he made an impact.
Jota’s stint at Wolverhampton Wanderers was distinguished by standout performances, notably a hat-trick against Beşiktaş in the UEFA Europa League. He scored 33 goals in 111 games for the club. In September 2020, he joined Liverpool for a reported £41 million.
He soon established himself as a valuable member of the club, noted for his ability to score vital goals and adapt to numerous attacking positions.
During his five seasons at Liverpool, he made 182 appearances, scoring 65 goals and providing 24 assists in all competitions. On the international stage, Jota represented Portugal at several youth levels before making his senior debut in November 2019. He received 50 caps and scored 14 goals for the national team.
Jota had a very successful career. He won the Premier League title with Liverpool in 2021-22, as well as the FA Cup and EFL Cup that year. He also helped the squad reach the UEFA Champions League final in 2022 and was instrumental in their win in the 2024-25 UEFA Europa League. Individually, he was voted Premier League Player of the Month in October 2020 and Liverpool’s Player of the Season in 2022–23.
Diogo Jota died tragically on July 3, 2025, in an automobile accident near Cernadilla, in the province of Zamora, Spain. He was 28. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning, resulting in a fire that killed him and his brother, André Jota, a professional footballer with Penafiel.
The Lamborghini had a tire blowout, resulting in the incident. This terrible news had a significant impact on the global football community.
Early Life
Photo Credit: @diogoj_18, Instagram
Career
In October 2014, Jota made his professional debut with Paços de Ferreira. He quickly established himself as one of Portugal’s most promising young players, making 41 appearances and scoring 14 goals throughout two seasons.
He agreed to a five-year contract with Atletico Madrid in March 2016. He was loaned to FC Porto for the 2016–17 season, nevertheless, because of intense rivalry within the team. Jota excelled in Porto, netting eight goals in 27 games while accumulating crucial UEFA Champions League experience.
Among his standout performances were a goal against Leicester City in Europe and a hat-trick against Nacional in the first half.
Despite his achievements, he was loaned out once more, this time to the English Football League Championship’s Wolverhampton Wanderers. A pivotal moment in Jota’s career occurred during his tenure with Wolves. He helped the team get promoted to the Premier League after joining on loan in 2017 and scoring 17 goals in 44 games.
His accomplishments earned him a permanent transfer in 2018, and he scored 16 goals in 67 games while thriving in the top league. During his tenure with Wolves, Jota put on incredible displays, including the FA Cup-winning goal against Manchester United and a hat-trick against Leicester City.
In addition, he made history by scoring the Wolves’ first goal in Europe since 1980 and two hat-tricks against Espanyol and Beşiktaş in the UEFA Europa League.
Jota reportedly paid £41 million to join Liverpool FC in September 2020. He made an early impression, netting the team’s 10,000th goal in Champions League history against Midtjylland and on his Premier League debut against Arsenal.
Against Atalanta, he scored his maiden hat-trick for Liverpool, showcasing his tactical awareness and clinical finishing skills. Jota spent five seasons with Liverpool, playing in 182 games and scoring 65 goals.
He contributed to the team’s 2024–25 Premier League victory, 2021–22 FA Cup and EFL Cup victories, and 2024–25 UEFA Europa League victory.
He was a crucial component of Jürgen Klopp’s and later Arne Slot’s tactical formations due to his ability to play across the front line.
International Career
Jota has represented Portugal at several young levels, including U19, U21, and U23. He made his senior debut in November 2019 and has 49 caps, scoring 14 goals.
He was a member of the UEFA Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 squads and was instrumental in Portugal’s UEFA Nations League triumphs in 2019 and 2025.
His international career was highlighted by key goals, including a brace against Sweden and an outstanding showing against Croatia.
Although he missed the 2022 FIFA World Cup due to injury, he remained a consistent presence in the national team and was admired for his work ethic and leadership.
Diogo Jota wife
Photo Credit: @diogoj_18, Instagram
Jota’s personal life was built around love and commitment. On June 22, 2025, he married Rute Cardoso, his childhood sweetheart, in a private wedding in Porto.
The couple has been together since 2012 and has three children: Dinis (born in 2021), a second child in 2023, and a daughter born in November 2024.
Despite his hectic work, Jota remained a loving spouse and parent. He frequently shared family memories on social media, commemorating milestones and expressing gratitude to his loved ones.
Fans liked his connection with Rute, and their wedding was a happy occasion before tragedy struck.
Death
Photo Credit: @diogoj_18, Instagram
Jota got minor lung surgery just before his wedding on June 22, 2025, and physicians recommended he not fly. He took a ship from Liverpool to Santander, northern Spain, and then drove south to Porto. He was on his way back to Liverpool for preseason training with his brother André when they were involved in a car accident just before reaching Santander. Both males were killed.
According to the Spanish Civil Guard, Jota’s Lamborghini Huracán experienced a tire blowout when overtaking another vehicle and drifted off the road before catching fire. The event occurred on July 3, 2025, at approximately 00:40 CEST on the A-52 motorway (kilometer 65 in the direction of Benavente), in the municipality of Cernadilla, Province of Zamora.
The Spanish newspaper Marca was the first to report the boys’ deaths. Later in the day, Spanish emergency authorities confirmed the incident and said both brothers died on the spot.
Tributes
Jota’s unexpected death drew international media attention, as well as an outpouring of messages from football stars. Arne Slot, Liverpool’s head coach at the time of Jota’s death, stated for the club, saying, “For us as a club, the sense of shock is absolute. Diogo wasn’t only our player. He was loved by all of us.
He was a teammate, a colleague, and a coworker, and he was exceptional in all three positions.” Michael Edwards (CEO of football at Fenway Sports Group) and Richard Hughes (sporting director of Liverpool) issued a joint statement through the club, saying, “Of course, we—his Liverpool family—are also having to come to terms with what has transpired… ” This is a tragedy that goes beyond Liverpool Football Club.”
His former squad, the Wolves, and club representative Matt Wild said, “We are all extremely stunned. It’s sad news, not only because Diogo died, which is tragic enough, but also because he lost his brother.
Liverpool FC declared in a memorial on its website that Jota’s number 20 shirt would be “rightly immortalized” for his services during the 2024-25 title-winning season.
Jürgen Klopp, who signed Jota for Liverpool in 2020, remarked, “Diogo was not just a magnificent player but also a wonderful friend, a kind and devoted husband and father!” We will miss you so much!” Cristiano Ronaldo, his Portugal teammate and captain, said, “It simply doesn’t make sense. We were together in the national team just now; you were married.”
Former Liverpool manager Sir Kenny Dalglish said, “Football is not important at this sad time. You feel helpless, knowing there’s so little we can do to ease the pain for his wife of just two weeks and his three beautiful children.”
The head of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, said, “I am deeply saddened to hear of the tragic passing of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva … they will both be so sorely missed by all those who knew them and by the worldwide football community.”
Following a request by the Portuguese Football Federation, a moment of silence was observed before all games at the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 on July 3 and 4, 2025, including a match between Portugal and Spain in which players wore black armbands.
Moments of silence will also be observed during the quarter-finals of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup on July 4 and 5, with the flags at FIFA Headquarters in Zürich flown at half-mast. Several other Portugal teammates paid respect to Jota.
Net Worth
Diogo Jota had an estimated net worth of $18 million at the time of his death. His Liverpool pay was roughly £140,000 per week, accounting for more than £40 million in career earnings.
He also earned around $1.5 million per year from endorsements with firms such as Nike, EA Sports, and others. Jota possessed a $3 million luxury villa in Lisbon, as well as a $1.5 million townhouse in Liverpool.
His automotive collection featured a Porsche 911 Turbo S and a Range Rover Sport, which reflected his preference for performance and style. His esports investments contributed an additional $3 million to his portfolio, demonstrating his financial expertise.
Social Media
Instagram: @diogoj_18
